Title: Kissing Madeline (Dearest, #3)
Author: Lex Martin
Release Date: April 27, 2015
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Cover Design by: Krista Ritchie
Blurb
What’s the worst thing about wanting a sexy NFL football player? Everyone else wants him, too.
After catching my boyfriend getting deep-throated by a skanky cage girl, I’ve learned my lesson – never date a professional athlete. Never. Besides, I have more important things to worry about, like not blowing my shot to make it as a broadcast reporter. I won’t let anything get in my way, not even the new “it boy” of the NFL and my hot-as-hell neighbor.
What’s the worst thing about getting death glares from his new neighbor? It doesn’t make him want her any less.
I’ve worked my ass off to make it to the pros. The last thing I need is the complication of a relationship, especially since my last one was a total train wreck. But I can’t stop thinking about the feisty girl next door with the smart mouth. And I’d love nothing more than to show her what to do with that mouth.
Friends with benefits might be the best idea he’s ever had. Or the worst.
Kissing Madeline is a companion novel to DEAREST CLEMENTINE and FINDING DANDELION. Each book is a stand-alone.
My Review
“Everyone has baggage, Daren.”….It’s learning not to make the same mistakes that matters”
Lex Martin has done it again! I am giddy, happy and just so excited! Kissing Madeline was such a fantastic read. I have been waiting for Daren’s story for a long time. His character has grown so much since we first met him in Dearest Clementine.
Kissing Madeline is Maddie and Daren’s story. After Maddie catches her boyfriend in a compromising situation, she vows to never date another athlete again. Her career is now her primary focus. Sounds good, right? What she didn’t plan on was her new neighbor Daren…. Daren has worked hard to make it as a pro football player. He lives, breathes and exists for football. He doesn’t do relationships. That is until the girl next door gets under his skin. Now his thoughts are no longer consumed with football. He has Maddie on his mind all the time…… What starts out as just friends friends with benefits, quickly turns into something more. But, being in the spotlight isn’t easy. Will Daren and Maddie be able to handle the pressures of their jobs, but also being in a real relationship?
I loved everything about Kissing Madeline. As soon as I read the synopsis for this story, I knew it was going to be a good one, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. This story starts off with one heck of a bang. I was hooked from that instant and had to read more. I was captivated and did not want to put this book down! I loved Daren and Maddie together. They shared such excellent chemistry and balanced one another perfectly. Maddie was just the woman that Daren needed. Someone who understood just how important his career was and didn’t crucify him over mistakes he made as a younger man. And Daren, he loved and supported Maddie, even when he was in denial about the way he felt. I was in awe of his strength and love, especially towards the end. Read it, you’ll understand!
Kissing Madeline was everything that I wanted and more. I laughed, I swooned, fell in love and even had some tears in my eyes. This story also had some great twists. I had a few ideas about who was behind the things that were going on and loved watching how it all played out! By the time, I got to the end of the story, I had the biggest smile on my face. This story had the best possible ending and wraps up the series as a whole in the best possible way. I know this book says that you can read it as a stand-alone, and you totally can. But, if you have the time, I would recommend that you read the first two books, just for maximum impact. I have been a huge fan of Lex Martin and the Dearest series, since I first read Dearest Clementine. I can not recommend this series enough. If you’ve been thinking about reading this series, this is one that should not be missed.
* I received an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
DEAREST CLEMENTINE (Dearest, #1 – Clementine & Gavin)
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Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn’t mind being called bitchy and closed off. It’s safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.
Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out…in the name of research, of course.
As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.
FINDING DANDELION (#2 – Jax and Dani)
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When soccer all-star Jax Avery collides with Dani Hart on his twenty-first birthday, their connection is instantaneous and explosive. For the first time in years, Jax isn’t interested in his usual hit-it and quit-it approach.
But Dani knows better. Allowing herself a night to be carefree and feel the intensity of their attraction won’t change anything when it comes to dealing with a player. So when Jax doesn’t recognize Dani the next time he sees her, it shouldn’t be a total shock. The fact that he’s her new roommate’s brother? That’s a shock.
Dani doesn’t regret that night with Jax, just the need to lie about it. Since her roommate has made it clear what she thinks about her brother’s “type” of girl, the last thing Dani wants is to admit what happened.
Jax knows he’s walking a fine line on the soccer team. One more misstep and he’s off the roster, his plans to go pro be damned. Except he can’t seem to care. About anything… except for the one girl who keeps invading his dreams.
Despite Jax’s fuzzy memory of his hot hookup with his sister’s friend, he can’t stay away from her, even if that means breaking his own rules. But there are bigger forces at work–realities that can end Dani’s college career and lies that can tear them apart. Jax realizes what he’s losing if Dani walks away, but will he sacrifice his future to be with her? And will she let him if he does?
About the Author
Lex Martin writes new adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she’s not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she’s lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.
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